Today, Nihal reviews the Campfire Audio Axion, a new full-range SDD or silicon dynamic driver IEM with a 384kHz-capable USB-C DAC terminated stock cable. It is priced at $249.00.
Disclaimer: This sample was sent to me in exchange for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or services. I thank Campfire Audio for their support.
Click here to learn more about Campfire Audio products previously reviewed on Headfonics.
This article follows our current scoring guidelines, which you can read in more detail here.
One of the things I find exciting about Campfire Audio is their continuous product release cycle. As a user, the anticipation of a new Campfire IEM around the corner is always present.
The excitement is even greater because the releases feel thoughtfully crafted and well-targeted, hinting that Campfire Audio understands the type of listeners they’re designing their products for.
Last month, Campfire Audio announced the release of two new products: the Alien Brain and the Axion.
The Axion is a budget-friendly option meant for everyday listening, yet it packs some impressive features. Axion was first introduced as a concept model during the 2024 Campfire Multiverse Event.
The newer version now features a more refined tuning aimed at everyday HiFi use, along with a more ergonomic shape and size.
In this review, we’ll take a detailed look at what the Axion has to offer and how it stacks up against IEMs such as the ALBA, Volume S, and the Project M in this crowded budget market.
Features
The Axion features a silicon dynamic driver that has a compact, box-like form factor similar to a balanced armature, yet it functions and sounds like a traditional dynamic driver.
Campfire Audio is supposedly the first to develop this unique type of dynamic driver.
Originally built for the Axion: Multiverse III, which came around in late 2024, the driver’s internal design remains unchanged, though the tuning has been slightly adjusted for this release.
Design
The Axion features a very simplistic design focused on providing comfort during extended listening sessions. The shells have a bullet-style shape with a slim form factor.
Unlike the typical over-the-ear IEM design, these IEMs are worn straight down with the cables hanging from the sides, similar to traditional earphones. The shells are transparent with some black detailing on the inside.
The golden brass nozzle looks quite premium and complements the shell design well. These golden accents, along with a touch of glossiness, add to the overall richness of the aesthetic.
The shells use an MMCX connection, which is Campfire Audio’s preferred system, found on almost all their IEMs. The shells are not labelled L or R, so be sure to note their orientation when swapping cables.
Comfort & Isolation
Given the small size and ultra-lightweight shells, the Axion is a breeze to use; you barely feel it on your ears. One thing to be mindful of is choosing the right ear tips for the best fit.
Also, the IEM nozzles are a bit angled, thus not as easy to fit as a straight one. Once you find the right ones, the IEMs sit very securely and don’t come off easily.
A common concern with this kind of design is that a bulky cable might pull the IEMs down, but thankfully, the included cable is quite lightweight.
The isolation offered by the Axion is impressive and better than many other IEMs in its price range. It blocks a significant amount of ambient noise, making it ideal for on-the-go use.
During my time with the Axion, I didn’t experience any pressure build-up, nor did I notice any driver flex.
Ear Tips
The Axion comes with two sets of ear tips, foam tips and silicone ear tips, both in three different sizes: S, M, and L. I’m not particularly fond of foam ear tips, so I didn’t use them much.
However, the included silicone ear tips are just fine, and I used them regularly during my time with the Axion.
It’s important to choose the right-fitting ear tips carefully, as a poor fit can make the sound feel leaner and less immersive. A larger-sized ear tip can help provide a secure and snug fit.
Stock Cable
The choice of cable makes the Axion a very versatile product. It features a high-quality built-in DAC chip with a sample rate of up to 32-bit/384 kHz. When in use, this DAC bypasses the often-low-quality DACs found in smartphones or lower-spec sources.
The cable also has USB-C connectivity, making it quite convenient for use with smartphones, tablets, and laptops, which seems to be the intended use case.
However, the USB-C connectivity limits compatibility with dongles and certain audio sources that may not support USB-C audio. I would have loved to see a modular cable with swappable connectors to cater to a wider range of devices.
The cable also features built-in microphones, adding to its utility factor. The microphone panel includes three buttons: two for volume control and one for call functions.
The cable has a thin build, which I appreciate, as additional weight could potentially pull the IEMs out of your ears. I don’t find the thin cable to limit the audio quality in any way.
Packaging & Accessories
The Campfire Audio Axion comes in a colorful black box with a vintage-inspired aesthetic, featuring a matte black exterior and gold-accented detailing. At the top of the box, the “AXION” logo is framed by a subtle gradient glow, along with a picture of the IEMs.
Opening the box, you’re greeted with a sleek black Breezy Bag that contains all the accessories. It’s a mesh zipper carrying case with ample space inside. Accessories such as foam and silicone ear tips, a cleaning tool, and a Campfire Audio pin are packed in small paper packets.
The cable and IEMs are neatly arranged alongside mesh pockets. Campfire Audio has always included mesh pouches for securely storing the IEMs, so I’m glad to see my favorite accessory here.
Carry Case
The Axion does not come with a separate carry case; rather, the Breezy Bag serves as one. This bag is included with high-end Campfire Audio IEMs, such as Clara.
I find it an exciting and thoughtful addition, and it serves the purpose well. It has enough space inside, allowing you to store the IEMs along with the cable quite comfortably. It also comes with an attached string, which can be helpful if you want to sling it over your shoulder.
Given the very small form factor of Axion, the bag comes in very handy. Even if you were to store other IEMs, I think the space inside is more than sufficient. The bag is well-padded, so it feels secure for storing your IEMs.
Sound Impressions
The following sound impressions of the Campfire Audio Axion were completed using a mixture of my main source, Lotoo’s Paw Gold Touch, an Apple iPad, and an Apple MacBook Pro. I paired the IEMs with the stock cable and the stock ear tips, size M.
Summary
The Axion has a balanced tuning that doesn’t place too much emphasis on any particular frequency range. It offers a spacious sound with a thick and warm bass and a natural midrange that prioritizes clean timbre.
The midrange exhibits a warm character with a lush and dense lower midrange. The treble has ample energy and extends well.
Overall, the sound is smooth without any exaggerated peaks. The thick bass adds an element of fun, making genres like hip-hop and electronic particularly enjoyable. The built-in DAC adds a touch of clarity and definition, making notes feel more vivid and realistic.
Bass
The bass on the Axion maintains a decent balance between quantity and quality. It exhibits a warm character with the thick texture often found in many Campfire Audio IEMs.
This bass is more aligned with the Bonneville than the Alien Brain. Axion’s bass delivers satisfying impact and punch in the mid-bass, while the sub-bass has solid depth and extension. Thankfully, the bold bass range remains quite controlled and within limits.
The overall bass doesn’t intrude much into the midrange, and it imparts a touch of lushness into the mids. It never overpowers but stays in control with a tight response.
If you enjoy a warm, thick bass without sacrificing detail and clarity, the Axion will satisfy you. This bass isn’t designed to impress bassheads, but it leaves very little to be desired.
Just make sure you get the best possible fit; otherwise, the bass may come off as neutral and lacking in punch.
Midrange
The midrange exhibits a warm character yet retains a clean timbre, resulting in an impressive level of resolution. It is neither too forward nor recessed, sitting at just the right position, close to the ears.
Thanks to the bass shelf, the lower midrange has satisfying body and depth, making instruments like the bass guitar and cello sound authentic.
On occasion, the bass and lower midrange can feel thick and dense, but they never overwhelm the mix, keeping the midrange clean and detailed.
One area that left me wanting more was the upper midrange’s energy, which doesn’t extend much; as a result, vocals and instruments can occasionally miss out on finer nuances and extension.
With a sound this clean, a bit more extension and energy in the upper mids could have made it truly immersive. Overall, the lower and upper midrange blend to present a coherent, rich, and lifelike tonality.
Treble
I couldn’t nitpick much when it comes to the treble region on the Axion. The treble possesses all the right qualities, as it is smooth yet highly detailed, the kind of treble one desires for long listening sessions.
Treble notes resolve well, with natural decay and a generous amount of detail and sparkle. There’s a sense of airiness and openness in the upper treble region.
At no point does the treble become harsh or exaggerated, which helps preserve detail and naturalness. Initially, I had some reservations that the thick bass might overshadow some of the treble’s detail and air, but thanks to the balanced tuning, the treble remains adequately emphasized.
Cymbal strikes and airy instruments like flutes and strings all carry a natural treble tonality that makes the overall sound enjoyable.
Staging & Dynamics
The technicalities of the Axion came as a bit of a surprise to me. The soundstage has a very realistic and engaging presentation. It spans quite well in width and offers a sense of depth. Y
ou get a pleasant holographic stage around your head, not overly large, but enough to keep you immersed. The imaging is quite satisfactory, delivering a decent level of spatial accuracy. I feel the images could be a bit sharper, but that’s a lot to ask from a budget set.
Instruments and vocals are nicely separated, and even in complex tracks, I never felt any sense of congestion. I think the Axion does justice to almost all types of tracks, be it metal, live music, or any other genre.
The resolution could be better, but the level of detail is ample; nothing feels missing, though some elements could be sharper and more precise. Overall, the Axion meets and even exceeds the level of technical performance you’d expect from an IEM at this price point.
Click on page 2 below for my recommended pairings and selected comparisons.
